 | Sheep |
 |
|
New Pond Farm is home to a small flock of Romney and Icelandic Sheep. Romney sheep originated in England and are considered a "long-wool" breed, referring to the length of their beautiful wool coats. They are a dual breed, meaning that farmers raise them for fleece and meat. Icelandic sheep are one of the world's oldest and purest breeds of sheep. They are referred to as a triple breed, raised for meat, fiber, and milk.
Here at New Pond Farm we raise them for their fiber, which we shear every Spring at our annual Founders' May Fair. | |
|
| |
| After our sheep are shorn their fleece is sent off to be washed, carded, dyed, and spun into yarn. We have two-ply yarn from Bartlett Yarn's mill in Harmony, Maine and we have Lopi weight yarn from the Hudson Valley Sheep and Wool company in Red Hook, NY. All yarn is available for sale in the Learning Center, which is open weekdays from 9 am - 5 pm. |
|
We also offer a variety of fiber classes for Adults and Children. Please follow the Educational Programs link to see what classes are currently available.
FIBER ARTS with Paula Moliver
Wednesdays, February 22 and 29
4:00-5:00 pm
If you have always been curious about yarn and how it is made...here is your opportunity. Learn to spin your own yarn in two sessions. The first session will have you dyeing the wool into a variegated roving. The second class will have you spinning your roving on a drop spindle. There will be several spinning wheels for you to try. Then it is up to your imagination to knit, weave, crochet or use your new yarn in your crafts. Ages 10 to Adult. For more information about Paula and fiber, see Paula's website: www.molivermade.com
A $10 material fee covers 2.5 oz. of roving top (fibers are smooth and parallel), drop spindle and materials used for dyeing.
Fee: $10/member, $12/non-member.
Knitting Nights runs from 6 - 8 pm. This weekly knitting group will meet by the fire and work on our current project. Feel free to bring snacks, drinks, friends or just your knitting. For more information, email kristen@newpondfarm.org
| |
Each spring, our ewes give birth to lambs. After a five month gestation, sheep are known for having twins, and even triplets. The mother cares for her young and they drink her milk for the first two months. If you visit the barn and spend some time with the sheep, you may notice that the mother communicates with her young through scent and sound.
Once the summer grass has greened up, the flock is put out to pasture. At this time, the mother ewe will begin to wean the lambs off of her milk, and encourage them to begin to eat grass. Again, if you watch the flock, you can hear mothers and lambs bleating to one another. Sometimes a mother may be looking for her lambs, but more commonly the lambs are looking for their mothers!
PLEASE BEWARE - the fence that encloses the sheep is electrified. Please do not touch!
Each fall we offer a Fall Farm and Fleece program for the area schools and scout groups. After a tour of the farm, students will learn each step in the process of turning raw fleece into spun fiber.
|
| |
